The Transfer Tavern

Darren Moore should seek to lure Reece Oxford to West Brom

According to a recent report from Marca, Reece Oxford could be set for a move away this month. The 19-year-old currently plays his football at Premier League side West Ham having come up through the ranks at the East London outfit, although just 17 senior appearances for the Hammers suggests that he is still a way away from commanding regular football under Manuel Pellegrini.

And recent reports suggest that La Liga club Eibar are keen on landing the £4.5 million-rated sensation (as per Transfermarkt), in news which should be of interest to West Brom manager Darren Moore, as he must seek to rival the Spanish side in a bid to upgrade on current central midfield option Chris Brunt.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, Northern Ireland international Brunt has been an outstanding servant to West Brom over the years, but much of his best football has come when playing out wide, with the 33-year-old contributing the vast majority of his 47 goals and 82 assists for the Baggies from those wide areas.

Yet manager Moore has utilised Brunt in a more central position in all five of West Brom’s Championship matches so far this season, and it’s fair to say that the 33-year-old hasn’t looked overly comfortable in that position.

And given just how important it is to have genuine quality in the middle of the park, the Baggies boss should be seeking to improve that area of the field in the last knockings of the loan window – Oxford’s arrival may well do just that.

The 19-year-old has been tipped for some time now to be the next big-thing in English football after making his West Ham debut at the tender age of 16, but with just 17 first team appearances for the Hammers, it hasn’t quite worked out like that.

And with difficult loan spells at Reading and Borussia Monchengladbach, there are some doubts creeping in about the youngster, but what isn’t in doubt is that he has all the attributes to be a serious upgrade on current West Brom midfielder Brunt.

The England Under-20 international has a great aerial presence and is deceptively quick across the ground, but importantly he has genuine quality with the ball at his feet, with Oxford calm and composed in possession, and able to pick a pass.

Add in the fact that he is adept at centre back as well, and it’s clear that Moore would benefit greatly from having a player like Oxford at his disposal, at the same time giving the West Brom chief an upgrade on the unconvincing Brunt in the heart of his midfield.